wh5 = who, what, where, when and why. The five basic questions that are the structure of any story. Explored in "Who says what, where, when and and Why: Context in Conversation." An introduction to Sociolinguistics through Conversation Analysis. wh5 is the blogsite of the book published 2008 by Nanundo-Phoenix, Tokyo.

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Parallel universe or double vision?

Anniversary…

.

Tengo: You know, a year ago it was, I had an
operation.

.

Komatsu: I know.

.

Tengo: Even now, I’m not sure whether I died on
the operating table, and that I’m now just imagining I’m alive in this
Murakami-like parallel universe.

.

Komatsu: 1Q84?

.

Tengo: Precisely. I mean, I even LIVE in
Murakami’s suburb, Koenji.

.

Two moons, or one?

Komatsu: But there’s a simple test. Are there
two moons in your sky? There were in Murakami’s.

.

Tengo: Yes. There ARE two moons in my sky. Have
been ever since I woke up from the operation a year ago.

.

Komatsu: So who are the REAL inhabitants of your
parallel universe? Am I alive or dead?

____________

Voice-over

Komatsu should worry indeed that he might not
be alive. But it could be merely that Tengo has double vision that he sees two
moons and therefore thinks he lives in a parallel universe. However, novels are
rarely THAT simple, and you can be sure that Murakami never intended such a
plain explanation.